Type slug side trimmer



May l, 1945. c. w. CURLE ET Al. l 2,374,655

TYPE SLUG SIDE TRIMMER Filed Oct. 31, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet IL` B RAY FNEWTON 'r TTORNEYS.

May 1, 1945. c. w. CURLE ET AL TYPE SLUG SIDE TRIMMER Filed on. 51, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CURLE 711500025 c. cuRLE .CHARLES W YPAY F'. NEWTON #mM-MJ ATTORNEYS.

May l, 1945- c. w. cuRLE ETAL 2,374,655

TYPE SLUG SIDE TRIMMER Filed Oct. 3l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FJ'E 57 1N #ARLES cu/zLE HEooo/zs c LE A y F. NEWTON ATTORNEYS.

May 1, 1945. c. w. cuRLE ETAL TYPE SLUG SIDE TRIMMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 5l

INVENTORS 75am. ,4 TTORNEYS.

I IT I i Q May l, 1945. c. w. CURLE ET AL TYPE SLUG SIDE TRIMMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed OCT.. 31, 1941 INVENTORS CHARLES W. CURLE THEODOEE C'. C'URLE 519)/ F. NEWTON f7omf/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 1, 1945 TYPE SLUG SIDE ".ritnvlMER.

Charles W. Curle, San Francisco, Theodore C. l Curle, Ross, and Ray F. Newton, San Francisco,

Calif.

. 'Application october 31, 1941,' seria1 m1417346 (c1. elo-17) 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for trimming the side ofj a type slug after it is discharged from a line casting machine, so as automatically to eliminate variations in `the thickness of the slug and tolinsure uniform thickness of a plurality of slugs discharged in rapid succession. w

4It isthe object of the invention to provide an improved machine which operates automatically to eliminate variations inthe thickness of a type slug, and which operates on slugs during their delivery from a line casting machine to a galley to cut or mill them with a high degree of accuracy to a standard thickness.

Further and more particular objects of the invention Will be made apparent in the following specification, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a side trimming machine embodying the invention.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line III- III of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a clutch pin, in section, and a portion of an actuating lever therefor shown in Fig. 3; V

Fig. 5`is a side elevation of themachine with parts in section and parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in section of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig.` 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII- VII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective View of a knife shown in Fig. 7; g

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line IX-IX of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of a slug before being trimmed; 1 p

Fig. 11 is a similarviewof a slug trimmed by the machine of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail with parts in sec-A tion of a knife and mounting therefor shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line XIII- XIII of y Fig. 5; and

Figs. 14 to 21 inclusive are perspective views of separate parts of the mechanism, illustrating details of construction thereof.

In the conventional line casting machine, a line of type or slug, as it is called, is produced in type metal with the type characters formed along one edge and with its opposite sides generally parallel to each other. One of these sides is customarily provided with transverse protruding ribs which may readily be trimmedto a plane parallelto the opposite side so that when the slugs are made up in a frame the lines of typecharacters will be presented in perfect parallelism.`

The type slugs are discharged fromj the line casting machine with the type edge in a vertical position and gravitate through an vinclined chute `or slot' to a galley in vwhich they are held ready for assembly into a framefor printing.

'In the drawings, an Vinclined slot I0 is shown aspositioned to receive a slug I I shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 5, as it is discharged from the line casting machine,a portion `of whichis shownatI2. I yj The slug I I is precipitated by gravity down the inclined slot I0, and as it passes therethrough-is operated upon by arotary cutter I3`to which its ribbed side is presented in passing in order to trim that side to exact parallelism with the other side and to produce a finished slug of athickness Whichhas been predetermined.

To compel the slug to move against the resistance offered by the cutter I3, a pusher I4 see Figs. 3 and 5) follows-it, engaging its after it has started down the slot I l) and forcibly feeds it past the cutter I3. The cutter is continuously rotated by a shaft I5 to the end of which it is secured as shown in Fig. l, andthis shaft is contained in a tube I6 journaled for rotation in bearings I'lfand I8 lodged in suitable casesr formed in the walls of a transmission housing I9. n A gear '20 keyed tothe tube I 6 meshes with a gear 2I The main carried and driven by a'main shaft`22.y shaft 2 2 is journaled in bearings 23 and24 and has an end 25 projecting through the housing for connection `With some suitable source ofpower such as an electric. motor, not shown. A grease retainer 2B encircles the shaft at the point Where it extends through the Wall of thehousing I9.l

Inorder that the shaft I5, which carries `the `which may comprise, as shown in Fig.` 1, aspherical enlargement 2l on the shaft and a pin extending th'erethrough and terminating in elongated grooves 28 extending longitudinally ofthe inner wall ofthe tube. The opposite end of the `cutter shaftIS isjournaled in a bearing 29 retained `between ashoulder as lshown and an end collar `Ell); .A springf3| surrounding 'the shaft is compresse between the end qffthetube I sfand upper end theinner face of the bearing 29, urging the shaft I to the right against a stop provided by the outer face of the bearing 29 and a shoulder' formed interiorly of an'adjustable bushing 32. Surrounding and threaded to the bushing 32 is a retractor sleeve 33. Surrounding this sleeve and connected with it through a pin 34 and groove 35, shown in Fig.' 2 vas disposed at an angle which will compel abrupt endwise movement of sleeve 33 upon rotation thereof, is a collar 35 supported by setscrews 31, preferably four in number, which are threaded through an annular case 38. 'Ihis case 38 extends into a suitable opening in the wallY of the housing I9 by which it is retained against transverse movement but permitted to slide or adjust itself axially or longitudinally with respect 54 is secured to the ring andfmay be used to adjust the same i-n one direction to advance the back bar 5u and in the other direction to retract it through the medium of the cams 52 and a l spring 55 (see Figs; 3 and '1) which urges the ends vof the bars 5I into engagement with the cams Vv latch pawl 51 to retain it against rotation. The

to the opening. Longitudinal movement 'of the case 38 is, however, prevented with respect to the slot I0, for reasons and by means hereinafter set forth in detail, by its rigid connection, as shown in Figs. 1 and '1, with'the ends of a pair of rods 4D `which extend through the housing I3 but'whichl are free for slight'longitudinal movement relative to the housing. n

Through the mounting of the outer end of the shaft I5 which carries the cutter I3 atits inner end, just described, the cutter may be adjusted to a high degree of accuracy or may be retracted rat will to an inoperative position. To adjust the cutter to a position with the plane of its cut parallel to the walls of the slot I0 or preferably at an angle justy sucient to effect cutting by the teeth on the side to which the slug is first presented,

and'slight clearance ofthe teeth on the opposite side, the setscrews 31 are adjusted. Through this adjustment the shaft I5 is swung on its universal support 21 in the tubeV I6 to the angle desired. N ow to adjust the shaft I5 longitudinally and thereby vary the depthof the cut, the bushing` 32 is rotated to advance or retract it through its threaded connection with the retractor sleeve 33. A hand Wheel 42 is fixed to the outer end of the bushing to facilitate its rotation and the periphery of the wheel 42 is notched and calibrated. 1A spring detent 43 engages the knotched periphery toumake possible adjustments by regular increments Aof .001 inch, or 1/14 ofy a printers point.

In order to retract the cutter to an inoperative position so that a slug may pass through the slot I Il without being trimmed, the retractor, sleeve 33 which is normally latched against rotation is released, and the spring 3l forces the assembly, in-

cluding the shaft I5, bushing 32 and'sleeve 33, n

outwardly with a twisting motionwhich is com,-

pelled and limited by the angular groove 35 which acts as a thread of steep pitch. The means which normally prevents rotation and retraction of the sleeve 35 is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and '1 as a latch 45 pivoted as at 4B and having a shoulder 41 engaging a notch formed on the inner face "of a ange formed at the outer end of the retractor sleeve. The latch is urged by a spring (not shown) to swing outwardly on its pivot46, When it is swung inwardly the shoulder 41 'disengages the retractor sleeve, which twists outwardly under pressure of the spring 3 I. Rotation ofthe retractor sleeve by hand returns it to its normal posi-V spacing of the notches 53 corresponds to the distance that the point ring will turn in advancing or retracting the back Vbar one point. With the back bar set in any desired position, the cutter I3 may be adjusted .to or away from it in increments of .-001 inch `by the means kabove described, so that the thickness of the slug may be predetermined within narrow limits.k

When the back 'bar 50 and cutter ,I3 have been adjusted any slugfpassing down the slot IU'will betrimrned to a thickness which theoretically will be the same asV the spacing between the back bar and the cutter. It has been found, however, that due to the strainqimposed upon the housing I9 by theA shafts journaled therein, and possibly somewhat bythe expansion and contraction of the'metal thereof, there is a tendency to weavingof the housing relative to the back bar and its supporting framework. To obviate this tendency and rigidly holdthe kback bar andcutter'against relative movement, a bracing frame 63 Vto the ends of the rods 40 which connect, as

set forth above, withthe 'cutter shaft assembly.

As the back of the point ring and back of the cutter assembly are thus rigidly vconnected by means which permits slight floating movement of the housing I9, any such `movement of the latter will not be transmitted tothe cutter, which will therefore trim slugs .to exact and uniform thickness.

' While one wall of the'slot vI0 is formed by the back bar 50 which remains stationary during operation of thev machine, the opposite Wall is defined by a vslug presser bar'I (see Figs. 5, '7, and 21) which normally dwells in the position of Fig. '1 to provide a wide slot for the reception of a slug as it comes from the line casting machine. As the slug enters the slot l0, the presser barr 10 moves to engage andk press it firmly against the back wall 50. At this time the slug pusher I4 engages the upper end of the slug and feeds itipast the cutter.' The presser bar 10, as shown in Fig. 21, has its upper end reduced in thickness to form a resilient leaf 1I which is preferably bent very slightly toward the back wall of the slot to insure a yielding 4pressure against the upper vend of theslug therein.'V The lower end may be providedwith a spring* 12 (see Fig. 117) fitted by screwspassingthrough holes with the lower end'of the slug to press it into vhrm contact with the back bar as it approaches the cutter. A guard 14; shown inFig.' 18, may be pair of rods 5I the outer ends of whichy engage a `pair of identical arcuate inclined cams `52 which, together, form an annulus commonly termed al pointring. This point ring is encased and rotatable in an annular case 53. A handle secured to the presser bar by the same 'screws 'and has an apron 15 whichl occupies the dotted line position shown in Fig. 21 to prevent'chips from the cutter from lodging in'a positionfwhere lthey might affect, thegsrfnqth operation' ofthe presser `bar oraccura'cyof 'the cutff, 'Ihrear of so as to eliminate abutting nat surfaces'between which chips from the 'cutting operation might gather and become packed. f I I The presser bar is secured to the outer end of a rod 80 reciprocally mounted in the wall of the housing I9 and urged toward they back. bar by a spring 8| (see Figs. 7 and 13) compressed between the housing I9 and a block 82 secured to the bar 80. This block 82 is notchedas at 82a (see also Fig. 16) to embrace a rod 82D to prevent rotation of the block and shaft 80 yupon which it is mounted. 4A roller .83 mounted on the block 82 by a shoulderyscrew 84 engages a link 85 which normally retains. the presser bar in its retracted position.

The advancement ofthe presserlbar and feedswings theiever llo and siides the trip bar sb to retract the trip 88 at its outer end. As'shown vin Fig. 20, the rear end of the lever I I is fitted with a resilient keeper 3 ywhich receives the pin I2 and yields to prevent breakage in the event the trip bar 90 is forced inwardly as` byl y just described, the pusher I4 engages its uppering movement of the slug I4 are initiated` autoy matically by the movement of the 'slu'gdown the slot I0. This occurs when the lower end of the slug strikes af trip 88 which projects into the slot and is carried by a radial plate 89 onvthe end of a trip shaft 98 which projects into the housing and is slidably and rotatably journaled in .the Wall thereof; a stop lug 9| also carried on the plate `88 limits the rotary 4movement of `the trip shaftby engagementwith the loweredge `of the presser bar or of the plate shown in'Fig. 19, as

may be seen from the position illustrated in Fig.'

5. When the descending slug strikesfthe trip'88, it rotates the trip shaft 90 a few degrees and comes to rest. This rotation of the trip shaft causes a fiat portion 92 thereon torock a pawl 93 (see Fig. 3) out of engagement with a. notch 94 formed in the back of a link 85 (see Fig. 15), th'e pawl being normally held insuch' engagement by a spring 94a thereon. The link 85 is pivoted at its upper end to a crank 95 xed toa freely rotatable stub shaft 96, `and `when released bythe pawl, moves downwardly generally in the direction of its length under tension of a spring 91. Upon this downward movement the roller 83 moves into a notch 98 in the link 85 and permits the bar 80 and presser bar carried-thereby to be advanced under pressure of the spring 8|. The slug which occupies the slot I0 is thus pressed rmly against the back bar 50 and is at the same time held down against the bottom of the slot by a roller |00 which is preferably faced with rubber. This roller 00 is mounted on the side of a lever |0| pivoted at one end to the stub shaft 96 and urged downwardly by a` r spring |02 engaging its other end. The pivoted end of the'lever is bifurcated and embraces a collar |03 fixed against rotation on the shaft 96 by setscrews |04. The collar |03 has a at side |05 (see Fig. 6) normally engageable with a shoulder |06 on the lever |0I to retain the lever in a raised position. As the inner end of `the stub shaft 96 carries the crank 95 the downward movement thereof which` accompanies release of the latch 93 permits the roller |00 to descend against the slug under tension of the spring |02 simultaneously with the advancing of the presser bar l0.

At the same instant the trip 88 which extends into the slot in the path of the slug is retracted to permit the slug to be forcibly advanced to .the cutter. For this purpose the trip bar 90 is grooved as a |08 to receive the bifurcated end |09 of a lever I|0 (see Figs. 3, 13 and 20) which is centrally pivoted to a bracket which extends inwardly from an inner wall of the housing |9. The opposite end of the lever is loosely connected with a pin I| 2 on the lower side of the block 82. Thus, movement of this block, which accompanies advancing of the presser bar,

, spring |39a into engaged position.

most end and forcibly feeds it past thecutter I3. As shown in Figs. 5 and 13, the pusher I4y is carried Fby a slide block I I5 including a depending lug 6 slidable in a track formed of members 'I and I I8 fixed with relation to the back bar 50. d A link ||9 is pivoted to the lug |I6 by a shoulder screw |20 and connected as by a pin andslot |2| and spring |22 to the/hooked upper end of a long crank |23 xed to a shaft |24 (see Figs. 1 and 5). The connection betweenthe crank and shaft includesa collar |25.keyed to the shaft and having a Wing` |26, which 'carries an adjusting screw |21 whichenters a lug |28 on thecrank |23 to adjust the crank on the shaft. A setscrew |29 serves to lock the screw |21 by pressure. The shaft |24 enters the housing I9 and carries a short crank |30, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, with a cam roller I 3| at its end, travelingin a box cam |32 rotatably mounted on a countershaf-t |35. Also mounted on the countershaft |35 isa Worm gear I 36 with hardened side plates |31 notched as at |38 to receive a clutch pin 39 mounted in the box cam |32 and urgedqby a The worm gear |36 is driven by a worm |40 on` a shaft |4| which isrotated at reduced speedby a worm gear |42 and worm |43 on the main drive shaft 22. The worm gear |42 is connected with the shaft |4| byl a slip clutch which .will release in the event of jamming of any of lthe parts driven thereby. This slip clutch, which may be of any accepted type, is shown in Fig. 3 as including a taperedv collar |45 splined to the shaft and pressed into friction driving engagement with the tapered bore of the gear by a spring |46 bearing on a thrust collar |41.

When the slug `descending throughthe slot I0 strikes `the *trip it effects engagement of the clutch between the box cam |32 and worm gear |36 for a single cycle to operate `the pusher moving downwardly upon operation of the trip, is pivoted as at |49 to a bell crank |50 which in a peripheral groove |52 in the box cam and normally engaged in a notch |53 in the'rclutch pin |39 (see Fig. 4). This retains the clutch in disengaged position and permits it to engage and establish driving relationship between gear |36 and the box cam upon downward movement of the bar which rocks the bell crank |50. The

driving engagement of the clutch is limited to ay single cycle by a rise |55 on the periphery of the box cam which, just prior to a complete rotation, engages a roller |56 on the bell crank |50to return it` to normal position where its lower end will enter the notch |53 in the clutch pin |39 and effect retraction thereof. 'I'he same movement of the bell crank raises the bar 85 until it is again latched by the pawl 93. Likewiseithe roller 83 rides out of the notch 98, with the result that the presser bar is retracted and the i trip bar is,`through the lever ||0, again'. ad-

vanced to a position where its trip 88 will again be positionedfor engagement by a slug in the slot l0.,

DuringY progress of the slug past the cutter, it is held rmly against the back bar 5B by a spring finger |60 V(see Figs. l and 5) which is secured to the frame of the machine belowV the cutter and curved as shown to clear the lower teethv and engage the slug centrally of the annulus formed by the cutter teeth. As the slug leaves the cutter, itis engaged by a spring finger ISI 'which also presses it against the hack bar and which is secured to a bracket |62 which projects from the side of the housing. y InyFig.v a slug is shown in end elevation with the portion to be trimmed away designated by the Vdottedline |63. The side trimming lcutter I3 removes this portion in the manner above described and produces a slug with parallel side walls, as shown in Fig. 11. It does not however act upon a casting iin often occurring at the edge |64 and the cutter sometimes produces a burr at |65. Thev latter is removed by a scraper |66 carried by the finger |5I. The fin |64 is removed by a knife |51 (see Figs. 7, 3,"9 and 12) mounted behind the back bar with its cutting edge extending over the topl of the bar and positioned to intercept the finned edge of the slug as it passes the cutter. This knife is mounted as shown in Fig. 12 with its back end received in a socket in the rod 5| and arranged to be advanced by an adjusting screw |53. A shouldered wedge |69 acts between a screw |1 and the knife to retain it in place and is brought into vwedging positionrby rotation of a threaded pin HI which extends through it. A spring |12 encircles the pin and is compressed between the wedge and an eye |13 on the knife to urge the knife into contact with the adjusting screw |63.V

The entire structure is supported by a main frame shown in part at |30 which may be rigidly secured to the line casting machine, as by bolts such as shown at i8i; and the housing I9 is held by cap screws |82 to the side of the frame.V

Having thus described and illustrated our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. A device for side trimming a type slug as it passes through a slot, comprising a back bar forming one side of said slot, a rotary cutter at .the opposite side, means to adjust the back .bar

relative to the cutter in increments of .0.14 inch, and means to adjust the cutter relative tothe back bar in increments of .001 inch.

2. In a device for side trimming a type slug, a back bar forming one side of a slot through which the slug passes, a cutter opposed to said back bar, a presser bar opposed to the back bar, a pusher Vto engage and feed the slug past the cutter, and

trip means engageable by the slug to eiect advancement of the presser bar into clamping engagement with the slug, and to initiate feeding operation of said pusher. f

3. In a device for sidetrirnming a type slug, a back bar forming one side of a slot through which the slug passes, a lcutter opposed to said back bar,

a presser bar opposed to the back bar, a pusher to engage and feed the slug past the cutter, trip means engageable by the slug to effect advancement of the presser bar into clamping engagement with the slug, and to initiate feeding operation of said pusher, and means for automatically retracting the trip means upon advancement of the presser bar. i

4. In a device for side trimming a type slug, a back bar forming one side of a slot through which the slug passes, a cutter opposed to said back bar, a presser bar opposed to the back bar, a pusher to engage and feed the slug past the cutter, trip means engageable by the slug to effect advancement of the presser bar into clamping engagement with the slug, and to initiate feeding operation of said pusher, and means for automatically retracting the trip means upon advancement of the presser bar, said last named means including a resilient connection to give'way in the event of accidental pressure on the trip means.

5. In a device for side trimming a type slug, a cutter, a rotary shaft therefor, a tubular shaft enclosing the rotary shaft, means for driving said shaft tov rotate the cutter, and means independent of the drive means for adjusting theshaft axially and angularly relative to said tubular shaft.

6. In a device for side trimming a type slug, a cutter, a rotary shaft therefor, a rotary tubular shaft enclosing the first shaft, a driving connection between -said shafts, means independent of the drive means for adjusting the rst shaft axially and angularly relative to Vthe tubular shaft, and means for retracting the rst shaft relative tothe tubular shaft to withdraw the cutter from its operative position.

7. In a device for side trimming a type slug, a cutter, a rotary shaft therefor, means for driving said shaft to rotate the cutter, means independent of the drive means for adjusting the shaft axially and angularly, and means including a spring and latch for effecting retraction of the shaft to withdraw the cutter from its operative position.

8. In a device for side trimming a type slug, a

cutter, a rotary shaft carrying said cutter, a hollow shaft embracing said rotary shaft, having a driving connection therewith permitting axial and angular adjustment ofthe rotary shaft, a

' bearing for the end of said rotary shaft opposite vto the end by which the cutter is carried, and a support for said bearing including means to adjust the same axially and radially.

9. In a device for side trimming a type slug, a cutter, a rotary shaft carrying said cutter, a hollow shaft embracing said rotary shaft, having a driving connection therewith permitting axial and yangular adjustment of the rotary shaft, a bearing for the end of said rotary shaft opposite to the end by which the cutter is carried, and a support for said bearing including means to adjust lthe same axially and radially, and including means to effect spring-compelled retraction of the shaft to withdraw the cutter from its operative position. f

- i CHARLES W. CURLE,

THEODORE C. CURLE.

RAYv F. NEWTON. 

